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Nzoia Sugar FC bounced back to the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) Premier League leadership despite being held to a barren draw by AFC Leopards at Sudi Stadium in Bungoma yesterday.

Following the result, Nzoia overtook Gor Mahia at the top of the table after the latter had taken an overnight lead, thanks to a 1-0 win over Nairobi City Stars in Kasarani on Saturday.

Nzoia now leads the standing with 28 points as Gor (27 points), KCB (27 points), Tusker (25 points), Kenya Police (21 points), Kakamega Homeboyz (21 points), AFC Leopards (21 points), Ulinzi Stars (20 points), Bandar (17 points) and Posta Rangers (17 points) complete the top ten positions in the top-tier league for now.

Apparently, Nzoia had a strong 12th man backing to win the Ingo Derby against Leopards as fans turned in their hundreds to gain free entry at the 1000-seater venue courtesy of Bungoma County Governor Ken Lusaka.

And just a day before the match, Nzoia Sugar Company Limited’s Managing Director Chrispine Omondi had visited the team’s players and officials to give them words of encouragement to win the match given that the team, on the strength of home ground advantage, believed it had prospects of being back at the saddle in the top-tier action.

Fluctuating fortunes

However, the ill-tempered match would largely turn out to be that of fluctuating fortunes although Nzoia were guilty of failing to make their dominance count in the early exchanges by squandering several open scoring chances.

There was an anti-climax for Ingwe when their goalkeeping coach Lawrence Webo was ejected from the sideline for protesting a decision by the referee,

Nzoia’s eccentric winger Felicien Okanda and John Mwangi, the three-goal hero against Wazito a fortnight ago at the same venue, produced a spirited show but their efforts were contained by a solid Leopards defence in which captain Lewis Bandi, Boniface Mukhekhe, Kaycie Odhiambo and Tedian Esilaba were outstanding.

However, it was not Nzoia all through as Leopards’ Nigerian import Ojo Olaniyi, who was later substituted for Saad Musa, had a sniff at the hosts’ goalmouth in the 11th minute but was denied by the rearguard alertness of Moses Mwale and Vincent Mahiga.

At Nyayo National Stadium, Kenya Police needed free-scoring Elvis Rupia’s 43rd-minute effort to silence a rather wasteful Bidco United.

At Bukhungu Stadium in Kakamega, Ulinzi Stars secured a similar win over Vihiga Bullets.

Ulinzi would have notched a bigger win had Masita Masuta and Mark Makwatta been clinical in front of the goal in the 26th and 44th minutes respectively.

The goal which separated the two sides came through Staphord Odhiambo who struck in his first attempt at goal from the onset of the encounter.

Meanwhile, Gor Mahia coach Jonathan Mckinstry has declared that he will take each match at a time and has cautioned his charges against complacency despite the team riding on a crest of a wave in the league.

Speaking to journalists after Kogalo edged out Nairobi City Stars 1-0, the Irish tactician said, ” We shall take every game as it comes and I can’t talk about the title now, though I remain hopeful that this season is already good statistically compared to the last one,” said McKinstry.